Comptroller Mychajliw Releases Statement on FEMA Ruling

(Buffalo) – I am proud to have stood side by side with the County Executive in February to fight for taxpayers in a bi-partisan manner to protect them from the federal government. It was outrageous for the federal government to try and hurt taxpayers by forcing Erie County to pay back $48.5 million.

This is what people want from their elected leaders, to put politics aside and stand up for them. Public servants from all parties and from all levels of government worked together to bring about a positive outcome for Erie County.

Had the county been forced to pay this back, the federal government would have decimated our unassigned fund balance, basically cutting it in half.

Erie County’s unassigned fund balance is approximately $88,332,000. The Erie County Legislature is required to approve any appropriation, and they are back in session on Thursday, September 12th, 2013.

The good news is that the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority (ECFSA, better known as the Control Board) recently returned $720,000 of their surplus funds to the county. The Office of Erie County Comptroller also recently estimated a $3.9 million pension savings from the State of New York.